Ancient Ideas on their Origin and Virtues, 59
Myrobalan, heavy,
and more yellow, but not more lustrous than the other kinds." Persons
who have studied the elephant with particular attention, have divided
it into four classes, after the names of the four cardinal divisions of
the Hindoos ; accordingly Pearls derived from elephants are classed
under four heads, " and were believed to produce good fortune."
Pearls which originate in the head of the Boar are
generally white, like the tusks of that animal, and "as boars are
divided into four orders, after the four cardinal castes, even so are
the Pearls which are produced by them." " A Boar-begotten Pearl is not
to be obtained by a meritless individual."
A Pearl derived from the Conch-shell is
of large dimensions, has the same colour as the inner surface of that
shell-fish, and is productive of good fortune to its possessor. ''
There are twenty-seven kinds of Conch-shells ; accordingly, Pearls
generated in them, being marked out by distinctive qualities, are
divided into twenty-seven orders."
Pearls attained from the mouth of Sea-fish are singularly round, small;
and light. Those which originate in whales are " agreeably round, but
not highly lustrous," Fishes are divided into seven
